People Are Calling Out Paloma Faith For Criticizing "The Little Mermaid" After An Old Tweet Resurfaced

    "Idk what she was expecting to see as if that’s not always been the original plot to The Little Mermaid since 1989."

    Mychal Thompson
    by Mychal Thompson

    BuzzFeed Staff

    The Little Mermaid made waves at the box office opening weekend, and everyone fell in love with Ariel all over again.

    Halle Bailey as Ariel swimming with sebastian the crab
    Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

    Well, everyone except for singer-actor Paloma Faith.

    Paloma singing on stage
    Wpa Pool / Getty Images

    Paloma shared an Instagram story claiming that she watched the new live-action film with her kids but hated the film's message. "Just seen the new Little Mermaid with my kids and while I think Halle gives a good performance and it's great casting," she began.

    screenshot of the instagram story
    Instagram: @palomafaith

    "As a mother of girls, I don't want my kids to think it's ok to give up your entire voice and your powers to love a man. Wtf is this shit? Not what I want to be teaching next-gen women at all."

    paloma speaking at a podium
    Tristan Fewings / Getty Images

    You might remember Paloma from her music, Penny Dreadful, or perhaps the time she admitted to lying about her age after she was blocked from editing her Wikipedia page to say she was 23 when she was 27.

    A closeup of Paloma smiling on the red carpet at an event
    Pool / Getty Images

    And now, unfortunately for the 41-year-old singer, everything hit the fan when people quickly called her out for another surprising plot twist. Her 2009 tweet resurfaced that read, "When I grow up I want to be The Little Mermaid."

    when i grow up i want to be the little mermaid

    — Paloma Faith💙 (@Palomafaith) October 30, 2009
    Twitter: @Palomafaith
    In her defense, she tweeted this when she was 27, which is around the same time as the Wikipedia "fake age" fiasco.

    The old tweet quickly made everyone wonder what her intention was behind the new criticism of the live-action adaptation and what drastically changed her dreams of one day becoming The Little Mermaid to become the underwater princess' biggest critic.

    Walt Disney Co. / ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection, / ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection

    "Did she wait since 1989 to make that statement, or waited until the film had a Black lead and thought it needed bad press?" one user wrote.

    Twitter: @ObatalaMartinez

    Evie Magazine wrote, "Before you scream in feminist... Ariel in The Little Mermaid doesn't give up her voice for a man. She gives up her voice to be human. Falling in love is one of her human experiences, but it wasn't the reason. 'Part of Your World' literally is all about this."

    Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection / Via Twitter: @Evie_Magazine

    Another user pointed out, "It's even funnier because the animated version is the one where it's all about a boy, while the live action is much more than a boy."

    Twitter: @FWGRANDEE

    "It's literally the same plot as the original what—💀," someone wrote.

    Twitter: @ronreup

    Another user accused Paloma of discrimination after discovering her 2009 tweet, writing, "It's so much easier to be quiet than racist and y'all keep choosing the harder route 😭."

    Twitter: @cartereland

    Another user came to a similar conclusion. "Has she not seen the original? Why would you take your child to a movie without knowing the description esp when the movie was previously a cartoon… it feels like her issue is something else."

    Twitter: @thekevojefe

    "That comment Paloma Faith has made about The Little Mermaid has done my head in. You just agreed to perform at the coronation, then want to drag a fictional movie for 'teaching girls to give up their voices for a man?' Not to mention the point of the film: reclaiming your voice."

    That comment paloma faith has made about the little mermaid has done my head in. You just agreed to perform at the coronation, then want to drag a fictional movie for “teaching girls to give up their voices for a man?”
    Not to mention the point of the film: reclaiming your voice.

    — Daniel Falconer (@DanielJFalconer) May 28, 2023
    Twitter: @DanielJFalconer

    This user shared an inspirational clapblack. "Ariel’s arc in The Little Mermaid encouraged me to pursue my dreams and ambitions. She was, and remains, a great role model for little girls everywhere."

    Twitter: @Calista_Toner

    "Idk what she was expecting to see as if that’s not always been the original plot to The Little Mermaid since 1989... and if only she knew of the real Grimm tale behind The Little Mermaid from Hans Christian Andersen…," another user pointed out.

    Twitter: @arianaunext

    We'll keep you updated if she responds to the backlash.